Meeting Summary
Present: Gilman, Lang, Rule, Whitman, Mang
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Closed Session
- The City Attorney reported on industry litigation without taking reportable action.
- The initiation of litigation was not considered and will be continued to a future meeting.
- The Mayor moved to close the session after addressing voting procedures and recusal questions.
Interim Finance Director Appointment
- City Manager Montgomery introduced Christy Billings as the new interim Finance Director.
- The council approved her employment agreement to address immediate budget and operational needs.
- Staff confirmed that a public recruitment for a permanent director will follow this interim appointment.
Strategic Plan Goals Review
- The council reviewed and modified tactics across housing, wildfire safety, arts, infrastructure, and public safety.
- Specific additions included a housing trust, fire hardening measures, and an Ojai Art Walk.
- The council paused the review to allow for public comment and will continue the discussion at a future meeting.
Pickleball Courts Update
- Staff provided an informational update on City Hall court usage and new installations at Soule Park.
- A sound wall for noise mitigation was identified for inclusion in the Capital Improvement Program.
- No formal action was taken on this item following public comment regarding noise levels.
Boards and Commissions Handbook
- Staff presented a revised handbook intended as a wholesale replacement of the previous document.
- The council adopted the handbook as a "living document" subject to future revision based on feedback.
- A training schedule for commission members was set for March 18 and 19.
Parks and Recreation Commission Leadership
- The council addressed the immediate need to fill a vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Commission.
- A motion passed to replace the current chair with the vice-chair while deferring broader rule changes.
- Discussion noted challenges with the current nomination process but prioritized filling the vacancy.
Short-Term Rental Lien Resolution
- Staff presented a resolution to record a lien for over $100,000 in unpaid penalties for rental violations.
- The council reduced the fine to $69,699 and approved a lien with a 12-month payment plan.
- The full amount will become due immediately upon the sale of the property or missed payments.
Full summary
Closed Session Report
- The City Attorney reported that the council met in closed session to consider Item 1 regarding industry litigation, providing comments to staff without taking reportable action. Item 2, regarding the initiation of litigation, was not considered and will be continued to a future meeting. Following questions regarding voting procedures and recusal requirements, the Mayor moved to close the closed session and open the public session.
Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance
- A roll call was conducted, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Introduction of Interim Finance Director
- City Manager Weston Montgomery introduced Christy Billings as the new interim Finance Director, noting her 35 years of experience in local government finance. The City Manager requested council approval to hire Ms. Billings in an interim capacity in compliance with CalPERS regulations. Ms. Billings addressed the council.
Agenda Review and Approval
- Council Member Lang moved to pull Item 2 from the agenda, citing ongoing conversations and the need to address the item at a different time. Council Member Whitman seconded the motion. Following discussion regarding transparency and the rationale for postponement, the motion to pull Item 2 was put to a vote and passed.
Public Comment
- Members of the public addressed the council on various topics, including library programs, the tone of council meetings, the aquatic center, developer monitoring, housing priorities, and the 4th of July celebration. Specific comments were made regarding the use of drones versus fireworks, the exclusion of a council member from the closed session, legal fees related to the Byrne v. Rule lawsuit, road repairs, and the indemnification of Council Member Rule. Additional comments addressed the hiring of a retired CalPERS annuitant for the Finance Director role and requests for the City Attorney to recuse himself from matters involving the Byrne v. Rule lawsuit.
Consent Calendar
- The City Manager provided clarifications regarding discussions with the Unified School District on the Aquatics Center and confirmed that an open recruitment for a full-time Finance Director would follow the interim appointment. Council Member Lang moved to approve the consent calendar, and the Mayor seconded. The motion passed.
City Council Goals and Strategic Plan
- The council reviewed proposed goals and tactics for the strategic plan, engaging in a discussion to modify and add items.
- Affordable Housing: The council reviewed tactics including establishing a housing trust, rental assistance, expanding Whispering Oaks, partnering with the school district, and creating a Housing Commission. Modifications included clarifying the distinction between "affordable" and "workforce" housing, adding collaboration with the Ventura Homeshare Program, exploring transitional housing for staff, investigating inclusionary housing ordinances, and exploring live-work environments and alternative building materials.
- Wildfire Safety and Risk Mitigation: Tactics reviewed included resiliency centers, Firewise strategies, communication plans, home hardening incentives, burying power lines, and land clearing. Modifications included removing specific contractor names to maintain flexibility, adding a "yes-and-no" plant list for landscaping, creating a coordinated education plan, exploring regional partnerships, requesting a report on mandatory fire hardening measures, and adding text messaging notifications.
- Arts, Culture, and Recreation Funding: The council reviewed tactics including culture roundtables, Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) contributions, establishing a Parks and Recreation Commission, extending bike paths, and partnering on a performing arts center. Additional tactics proposed included a capital campaign for a pool at Soule Park, a dog park, an "Ojai Art Walk," a community mural, a creative economy report, a multi-generational choir, and artist studio spaces.
- Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement: Tactics reviewed included advancing the road paving timeline, researching low-carbon paving materials, and developing a city asset maintenance schedule. Revisions included changing a tactic on lighted crosswalks to "research and report back," adding a discussion on parking opportunities, and investigating the city's potential takeover and extension of the bike path. A tactic to investigate hiring a grant consultant was proposed for placement under Fiscal Sustainability.
- Public Safety: Tactics reviewed included a citywide 25 mph speed limit, an e-bike policy, and traffic calming measures. Revisions included changing the speed hump tactic to "research and identify traffic calming measures," adding a partnership with Caltrans and the County for Highway 33 and Villanova Road safety, revisiting stop signs at Drown and Grand, conducting a crosswalk accessibility audit, assessing pedestrian safety on Bryant Street and Circle, and exploring transportation options to reduce car usage. Discussion also covered the balance between street lighting and the dark sky policy.
- The council decided to pause the review of the strategic plan goals to allow for public comment and to continue the discussion at a future meeting. Public commenters provided support for various tactics, including the swimming pool, parking studies, the Ojai Art Walk, and the arts center, while also offering suggestions on housing, wildfire safety, and data collection.
Employment Agreement for Interim Finance Director
- Staff presented a resolution to approve an employment agreement for Christy Billings as Interim Finance Director, noting the immediate need for leadership in budget preparation and operations and confirming that a public recruitment for a permanent position would follow. A motion was made to approve the employment agreement, seconded, and passed.
Pickleball 90-Day Update
- Staff presented an informational update on the pickleball courts at City Hall, noting daily cleaning, the removal of non-city items, and the installation of new courts at Soule Park and Lake Casitas, which has reduced usage at City Hall. Staff addressed questions regarding sound walls, equipment mandates, and usage levels, indicating that a sound wall would be part of the Capital Improvement Program discussion. Public commenters expressed concerns regarding noise levels and requested data collection. No action was taken on this item.
Boards, Committees, and Commissions Handbook
- Staff presented a revised Boards and Commissions Handbook intended as a wholesale replacement of the previous document, along with a training schedule for March 18 and 19. Discussion focused on the handbook's origin, the lack of prior consultation with commission chairs, and the intent to treat the document as a "living document" subject to future revision based on feedback. Council Member Lang moved to adopt the revised handbook, and Council Member Whitman seconded. The motion passed.
Commission Appointment Rules and Parks and Recreation Commission Chair
- Staff presented a request to consider amending appointment rules or appointing a new chair for the Parks and Recreation Commission. Discussion centered on the challenges of the current nomination process and the immediate need to fill vacancies. The consensus was to address the immediate vacancy by replacing the current chair with the vice-chair while deferring changes to the broader appointment rules. Council Member Rule moved to replace the current chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission with the vice-chair. The motion was seconded and passed.
Resolution to Record a Lien for Short-Term Rental Violations
- Staff presented a resolution to record a lien on a property at 414 Buena Vista Drive for unpaid penalties totaling $100,633 related to 19 short-term rental violations. The property owner's attorney and the owner appeared via public comment, citing lack of awareness of the ordinance, non-receipt of certified letters, and financial hardship. Staff confirmed that a lien was necessary to secure payment, particularly as the owner intended to sell the property. Council discussion addressed the communication attempts and the nature of the penalties. Council Member Rule moved to reduce the fine to $69,699, impose a lien for that amount, and require payment in 12 monthly installments, with the full amount due upon sale or missed payments. Council Member Whitman seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Council Member Reports
- Council members provided updates on various initiatives, including the resumption of the City of Ojai Youth Council, the opening of Olive Valley Organics, and plans to review questions regarding the Cabin Village project.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned.